Sled.



No. 806,814. BATBNTED DEC. 12, 1905. L. H. KELLEY & A. J. ERSKINE.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

annex d014- Witness No. 806,814. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. L. H. KELLEY & A. J. ERSKINB.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINCOLN H. KELLEY AND ANDREW J. ERSKINE, OF OTTUMWA, IOWA.

SLED...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed January 20, 1905. Serial No. 242,009.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LINCOLN H. KELLEY and ANDREW J. ERSKINE, citizens of the United States, residing at ()ttumwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Sleds, of which the following isa specification.

The chief intention of the present invention is to combine with a sled propelling means whereby the same may be driven by foot-' power in substantially the same manner as velocipedes and kindred manually-propelled machines. I

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the'details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sled embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail View in elevation of the propelling mechanism, showing two positions of the tractionwheel by full and dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a side view of the sled. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of 'the drawings by the same reference characters.

The sled may be of any design and comprises runners 1, knees 2, and an upper framework for supporting the operating parts and the rider. The precise formation of the upper framework 3 is unimportant within the purview of the invention and will depend largely upon the arrangement of the operating parts and the general design of the sled.

The traction-wheel 4, constituting the driver, is provided around its periphery with spurs 5 for making positive engagement with the icy surface, so as to utilize the power expended to thebest possible advantage in propelling the device. The axle 6 of the tractionwheel 4 is mounted in bearings of a fork 7, whose members are preferably resilient, so as to admit of the traction-wheel having a limited vertical play to adapt itself to inequalities in the surface over which the sled is propelled. The spring-fork 7 is secured at its upper end to a transverse shaft 8 and mounted in bearings pendent from the framework 3; The tension of the fork members may be varied by turning the shaft 8 either forward or backward. For convenience a lever 9 is fast to the shaft 8 and is adapted to be held in the located position by engagement with cogs 10, projected laterally from a curved bar 11. The lever 9 is adapted to yield transversely to admit of its engagement with and disengagement from the cogs or teeth 10. The tractionwheel 4 may either be loose upon the axle 6 or fast thereto, so as to rotate therewith. A sprocket-pinion 12 at one side of, the traction-wheel is adapted to rotate therewith, power being applied thereto in any manner, preferably by means of a sprocket-chain 13.

A sprocket-wheel 14, loose upon a shaft 15, is provided at its sides with ratchet-wheels 16 and supports the front end of the sprocketchain 13. The axle 15 is supported at its ends in corresponding brackets 17, attached to or forming a part of the framework 3. Pedallevers 18 are loose upon end portions of the axle 15, and each is provided with a springactuated pawl 19 for cooperation with the teeth of the respective ratchet-wheels 16. A spring, 20 exerts a force upon each of the pedal-levers to hold it in a normal position.

' When the pedal-levers 18 are pressed forward at their upper ends, the pawls 19 engage with teeth of the ratchet-wheel 16 and turn the latter and the sprocket-wheel 14, connected therewith. Upon releasing the pedal-levers they are returned to a normal position by the springs 20, the pawls 19 riding over the teeth of the ratchet-wheels on the return movement of said pedal-levers. N

The steering mechanism consists of a post 21, journaled in a vertical bearing 22, a handle-bar 23 at the upper end of the post, and a rudder 24 at the lower endof the post. The post 21 has a limited vertical play in the hearing 22 and is pressed downward by means of a spring 25, mounted thereon, so as to force the rudder 24 in contact with the icy surface over which the sled is propelled.

For convenience of the rider a suitable seat, body, or the like may be provided and attached to the framework 3, and inasmuch as the same may be of any design, depending upon the ca- 2. In a sled, the combination of a tractionwheel, a movable support therefor, a shaft, a gear-wheel mounted upon said shaft, ratchetwheels connected with said gear-wheel for rotation therewith, spring-actuated pedal-levers mounted coaxially with said gear-wheel and provided with pawls for cooperating with said ratchet-wheels, springs for normally holding the pawls in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheels and serving to return the pedallevers to a given position, and means for transmitting power from the gear-wheel to said traction-wheel.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LINCOLN H. KELLEY. [L. 5.] ANDREW J. ERSKINE. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

L. C. HALTON, A. R. VVALTERS. 

